The State of Yorkshire’s Flora by Prof. Alastair Fitter
(Zoom)
Wednesday 16th March 2022
Following Alastair’s ‘The State of Yorkshire’s Nature’ talk to the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union (YNU), this zoom talk was derived from The State of Nature Report 2019 by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), which stated 15% of all species are threatened with extinction from Great Britain. The aim of this talk is to put these figures in to context.
Questions posed included; are species becoming more or less abundant? Are species becoming more widespread, which ones and where? Which habitats are most important for sustaining biodiversity in Yorkshire? Where should conservation efforts be focussed?
What plant species do we have in Yorkshire?
He asked Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) Head of Science Kevin Walker, who said we have 1000 native species in Yorkshire which is two thirds of the native British Flora. Yorkshire specialities include English Sandwort or ‘Yorkshire’ Sandwort (Arenaria norvegica ssp. anglica) and Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna), which are also described as ‘Yorkshire stronghold species’.
Fifty plant species have become extinct mainly from habitat destruction, especially wetlands, including Crested Buckler-fern (Dryopteris cristata) which maybe re-introduced to Askham Bog.
There are 16 species of conservation concern in Yorkshire, including Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), lady’s-slipper orchid and sedges Divided Sedge (Carex divisa) and Large Yellow-sedge (C. flava). These species are mainly species of grassland or fens and base-rich mires, over half of them on limestone. These are the most threatened habitats.
115 species of Yorkshire flora are in severe decline, including a 73% reduction in Green-winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio).
How well are these species protected? Fitter examined 188 species of which 52% occurred on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) reserves, which is really encouraging. And 41% have at least 105 of records on a YWT reserve. The landscape outside protected sites is concerning; “Are species vanishing from the wider countryside? He asked.
From the list of 16 species above; 9 out of 16 species aren’t found on a YWT reserves such as Dwarf Milkwort (Polygala amarella).
He concluded Yorkshire is still a nature-rich county. But are we protecting our plant species sufficiently? More data on abundancy is needed and a common archive for the data. We need to find out what is happening to our flora and go beyond distribution numbers. Should the YNU or BSBI take on the role?
Kay